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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
How much should a Police Officer expect to earn? If you're going by the national average of $75,423, you're missing the plot. The real answer depends on where you work, how long you've been at it, and what the local market can bear. Across 288 tracked cities, we found a $66,372 range from entry to senior-level pay — and a geographic spread that's equally dramatic.
Positioned in Protective Services within the broader Public Safety industry, Police Officers typically hold High school or associate's. The employment landscape is shaped by steady, and the day-to-day is patrol/shift-based. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$83,850 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Police Officer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $137,800 — $83,850 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($53,950). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Police Officers average $45,254, the median sits at $75,423, and senior earners pull in $111,626. That $66,372 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $4,944 below the national median household income of $80,367 — which tells you location and cost of living are critical factors in making this salary work.
The city-level data complicates the national narrative. The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $128,700 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $54,383. That $74,317 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
A Police Officer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $137,800 — $83,850 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($53,950). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Police Officer is $45,254, while senior-level (P90) earners average $111,626. That $66,372 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $45,254 | $75,423 | $111,626 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £30,980 | £43,027 | £61,099 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$47,138 | CA$65,469 | CA$92,966 |
| Australia | 13 | A$56,462 | A$78,419 | A$111,355 |
| Sweden | 24 | 335,364 kr | 465,783 kr | 661,412 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $54,785 | $91,309 | $135,137 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $52,943 | $88,238 | $130,592 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $52,650 | $87,750 | $129,870 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $48,750 | $81,250 | $120,250 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $48,165 | $80,275 | $118,807 |
| Washington | 8 | $47,239 | $78,731 | $116,522 |
| New York | 5 | $44,460 | $74,100 | $109,668 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $44,460 | $74,100 | $109,668 |
| Florida | 22 | $44,123 | $73,539 | $108,837 |
| Colorado | 11 | $43,361 | $72,268 | $106,957 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $43,290 | $72,150 | $106,782 |
| Nevada | 5 | $43,212 | $72,020 | $106,590 |
| Arizona | 12 | $42,998 | $71,663 | $106,061 |
| Oregon | 5 | $42,900 | $71,500 | $105,820 |
| Idaho | 3 | $42,770 | $71,283 | $105,499 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $42,432 | $70,720 | $104,666 |
| Utah | 4 | $42,315 | $70,525 | $104,377 |
| Virginia | 7 | $41,619 | $69,364 | $102,659 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $41,080 | $68,467 | $101,331 |
| Alaska | 1 | $40,950 | $68,250 | $101,010 |
| Illinois | 5 | $40,482 | $67,470 | $99,856 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $39,477 | $65,794 | $97,376 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $39,000 | $65,000 | $96,200 |
| Montana | 1 | $39,000 | $65,000 | $96,200 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $38,870 | $64,783 | $95,879 |
| Texas | 40 | $38,678 | $64,464 | $95,406 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $38,610 | $64,350 | $95,238 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $38,415 | $64,025 | $94,757 |
| Georgia | 6 | $38,285 | $63,808 | $94,436 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $38,220 | $63,700 | $94,276 |
| Kansas | 4 | $38,025 | $63,375 | $93,795 |
| Michigan | 6 | $37,895 | $63,158 | $93,474 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $37,440 | $62,400 | $92,352 |
| Maryland | 1 | $37,440 | $62,400 | $92,352 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $37,050 | $61,750 | $91,390 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $37,050 | $61,750 | $91,390 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $36,075 | $60,125 | $88,985 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $35,880 | $59,800 | $88,504 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $35,393 | $58,988 | $87,302 |
| Missouri | 4 | $35,393 | $58,988 | $87,302 |
| Alabama | 5 | $35,256 | $58,760 | $86,965 |
| Indiana | 3 | $34,710 | $57,850 | $85,618 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $34,710 | $57,850 | $85,618 |
| Iowa | 2 | $34,320 | $57,200 | $84,656 |
| Ohio | 6 | $34,255 | $57,092 | $84,496 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $32,760 | $54,600 | $80,808 |
Geography shapes Police Officer pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $91,309 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($137,800 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $65,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $137,800 | 212 | $65,000 | $82,816 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $128,700 | 198 | $65,000 | $77,807 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $119,600 | 184 | $65,000 | $72,797 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $117,650 | 181 | $65,000 | $71,724 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $115,700 | 178 | $65,000 | $70,650 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $115,050 | 177 | $65,000 | $70,293 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $115,050 | 177 | $65,000 | $70,293 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $112,450 | 173 | $65,000 | $68,861 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $112,450 | 173 | $65,000 | $68,861 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $109,850 | 169 | $65,000 | $67,430 |
From a career planning perspective, Police Officer offers a $66,372 earning range. The 2.5× multiplier from entry to senior makes this a field where longevity pays off. The typical entry requires High school or associate's. Day-to-day, expect patrol/shift-based work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Police Officers is $75,423 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $45,254, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $111,626.
The highest-paying city for Police Officers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $137,800. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($137,800), Santa Clara ($128,700), Irvine ($119,600). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Police Officer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $53,950. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Police Officers (10th percentile) average $45,254 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $82,680. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Police Officers average $111,626 nationally — $66,372 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Police Officers can earn up to $203,944.
The top-paying states for Police Officers are California ($91,309 median), Massachusetts ($88,238 median), Hawaii ($87,750 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Police Officer involves High school or associate's. The field is in the Public Safety sector (Protective Services), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically patrol/shift-based.
With a national median of $75,423 and representation across 288 metro areas, Police Officer offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $66,372 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.